[NotMechanicalAtAll]

I am a retired old lady on a fixed income. I had to sell my car 4 years ago because of health issues. I've been relying on Enterprise (one a month) since then to go to the grocery store and doctors once a month but the last two years Enterprise has been charging $100 per day for a (oftentimes beat up) economy car in their Sevierville, TN store. Because of the 15 million tourists here, they've decided to price gouge and are getting away with it. I can't afford to pay $75 to $100 to use a car one day so I'm trying to find a reliable (but inexpensive) car to purchase. I've found a 1995 Toyota Camry wagon that's in excellent mechanical condition per the mechanic that serviced this vehicle the last 22 years. The shop was kind enough to print me all 28 pages of maintenance records. The car has two owners. No records for the first 3 years; car driven 26,831 during that time. The remaining 22 years, the owner was a little old man, who per his mechanic, was fanatical about maintaining his car. He even had it painted recently because of oxidation. Both inside and outside look brand new. The issue I'm having is - the car was only driven 2,500 to 3,200 miles each year and those miles were in town (DC) driving only. The car today only has a little over 98,000 miles on the odometer. Having not been driven on the freeway for the last 22 years, would this car blow up on me if I drive it from it's current location (5.5 hrs of freeway driving at 60 to 70 mph and another 2 hours 50 or less mph home.) Would you buy this car if you were me? I desperately need a car for me and my (117 lb lab/pyrenees mix - Bailey.) In additional to yearly general maintenance, major repairs include, in 2006 the front exhaust pipe was replaced, 2012 a exhaust pipe was replaced again2016 the pcv valve replaced, oil pan gasket replaced, muffler replaced, radiator and resonator replaced; 2017 a/c refrigerant recharged, adapter seal replaced, motor mounts replaced, heater control valve replaced ....... The car is listed for $4000 and I think that's high given it's age but I don't know really. From all I've read, Toyota Camry's are a GREAT buy - would this one be for me?????????

 

[ukrkoz]

I drive 98 Grand Marquis as daily beater. I bought it single owner all records for $1500.

15 Cars You Can Drive Forever | Kiplinger

Some models just seem to keep rolling along, whistling past the junkyard. We've identified 15 cars with exceptional and sometimes surprising endurance and value.

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I'd be careful with vehicle that needed so much work in 98 000 miles. Mine has a fraction of that done.
If I were you, I'd look around for single owner Buick Park Avenue, LeSabre, Crown Victoria, Grand Marquis or, if you want fancy, Mark VIII.
Btw, trunk in those cars is cavernous. And ride is very comfy. And, A LOT of metal around you. If my wife, who is a dead set Lexus girl, likes my "police car", that tells you something.

 

[insightbrewery]

Take $100 (might even be less) and get it thoroughly inspected by a mechanic you trust that isn't the seller.

 

[94Camry 2Door]

The price is a bit high but the low miles is attractive. Strange that it needed so much work. Lot of those parts replaced rarely ever go bad on a gen 3. Mechanic really took the little old man to the "cleaners" for repairs. I would love to find a gen 3 Camry wagon. Hard to come by these days in good shape

 

[NOTAMR2]

The Gen3 Camry is a better car than a Crown Vic platform IMHO (even though I would love to find a cheap P-73).

I'd be careful with vehicle that needed so much work in 98 000 miles. Mine has a fraction of that done.

I think the guy above me is right. Sounds like it was just a shifty mechanic that took the poor old guy to town.

Personally, I would go for the Camry, but negotiate a lower price. If it were really that well maintained, I'd buy it.

Aside from that, will insurance be less than what you were paying for Enterprise already?

 

[NotMechanicalAtAll]

I drive 98 Grand Marquis as daily beater. I bought it single owner all records for $1500.

15 Cars You Can Drive Forever | Kiplinger

Some models just seem to keep rolling along, whistling past the junkyard. We've identified 15 cars with exceptional and sometimes surprising endurance and value.

www.kiplinger.com

I'd be careful with vehicle that needed so much work in 98 000 miles. Mine has a fraction of that done.
If I were you, I'd look around for single owner Buick Park Avenue, LeSabre, Crown Victoria, Grand Marquis or, if you want fancy, Mark VIII.
Btw, trunk in those cars is cavernous. And ride is very comfy. And, A LOT of metal around you. If my wife, who is a dead set Lexus girl, likes my "police car", that tells you something.

Thanks .. for the information

 

[NotMechanicalAtAll]

The Gen3 Camry is a better car than a Crown Vic platform IMHO (even though I would love to find a cheap P-73).


I think the guy above me is right. Sounds like it was just a shifty mechanic that took the poor old guy to town.

Personally, I would go for the Camry, but negotiate a lower price. If it were really that well maintained, I'd buy it.

Aside from that, will insurance be less than what you were paying for Enterprise already?

Yes, the insurance would be quite a bit less that what I'm having currently to pay to rent a Enterprise car once a month. Thanks for the information.

 

[NotMechanicalAtAll]

Take $100 (might even be less) and get it thoroughly inspected by a mechanic you trust that isn't the seller.

The mechanic I trust is 7 hours away from where the car is. Otherwise, I would have asked my mechanic to look it over and help me with the decision. Thanks for trying to help me.

 

[sdspeed]

Any family or friends that are more mechanical that could go with you? How did you hear about a car hours away from you, just searching ads or craigslist?
Do you know if the roads are salted or chemically treated where the car has been the majority of it's life? Kinda wonder about rust and corrosion and what is hidden under that new paint job.
Rust might explain why the exhaust parts were replaced more than once.

 

[ukrkoz]

Hold on.
$4000? Seriously? I can easily buy almost mint MarkVIII or Park Avenue for less than that. And have solid comfortable ride. Btw, those 3.8 V6 engines do easy 32 mpg and that Camry won't.
Folks, I am all for Japanese cars and Camry of those years indeed is reliable vehicle. Thing being, after I discovered my "beater", I won't go that route anymore. It just feels so SOLID. I had and have all kinds of Japanese cars. None of them even gets close. And you can find them in top shape and family owned elder dirt cheap.

 

[JohnGD]

$4000 sounds high but it depends on market condition. Search on Autotrader in your local area 50 miles radius and see. Those are only “asking prices”, which means they start high.

Sedans are out and SUVs are in, but what’s it like there in TN? I don’t know.

How many miles do you drive a year? What about new car lease specials? In some markets compacts go for less than $100/month specials on 2-3 year leases, with $3000 down. No worries on breakdowns. New tires all around. Free new car smell.

for example below. I saw $69/month in other areas. $99 Jetta 3-yr leases $3k down. See what you have in TN.

 

[Stillrunning]

First the price is way high, you are taking on considerable risk, especially with low income. In 2007 I paid $3200 for that exact car with about 140,000 miles. Over the years I have done my own service work. Don't think that your car will not need anything. The first item to check is when was the timing belt service done - that can be a major expense. Just after I got my car I did a complete timing belt to start me off as I did not know the service history. Over the years I have done an OK amount of needed service. Most recently and new gas tank, the old one was rusted - even in the southeast.

The service history on your car is really nothing major, but that does not mean you won't need to spend any money. Your location means that rust might be a problem. As well in cold climates with short drives it will take a toll on the engine. Find out how often the owner did oil changes, and what oil he used.

I will also recommend you have your own mechanic check the car out - well worth the drive and $100. But get that price down first, no more than about $1200. Check Kelly Blue Book values for your area for private party sale.

 

[sdspeed]

My neighbor just did that Kia deal here in SoCal. With taxes her payment is just shy of a hundred bucks a month. Nice car too!
No maintenance worries!

 

[CamryFL]

No worries on breakdowns. New tires all around. Free new car smell.

TN Quote of the week.

Agree w/ everyone above, the price is high, would negotiate. And get it checked out at an independent mechanic / Toyota dealer before handing over $$$.

I'll take the contrary view, re: repairs - having owned a '96 Camry that lived most of it's life in NH & NY (rust belt), all those repairs listed above seem reasonable: nothing you have listed would 'scare me away' from that purchase. Aside from the oil pan reseal listed : they're all extended maintenance items.

Own any vehicle long enough, those items will eventually need to be replaced. The paint job wouldn't concern me either, given the owner's fanatical maintenance on the vehicle. Sounds like a man who takes pride in his ride.

Only item I would have any concern about is the -tires-, if original .. or older than 7-10 years. Same deal w/ the timing belt, also made of rubber.
I'd make sure it has good shoes, before hitting the pavement. ... And good brakes also.

Best wishes on your purchase, hoping it goes excellent for you.

 

[97trophy]

 

[Tripleguy]

Is this now an old Buick, Ford forum? Price is very high for a 95. I have a 98 Camry that my son was driving. 3.5 years ago it had 55,000 miles on it and was mint. He was hit by a truck and insurance wanted to total the car. We got it appraised back then at $3,800 and had it repaired. There's no way I'd pay $4000 today for a 1995 with almost 100K miles. $2500 tops.

A big sled like a Buick might be tempting, but that's a big car to maneuver in parking lots. I think you're on the right track with a Camry, just not that one.

 

[Tripleguy]

Nice typical sag in the back end of that pig.

 

[insightbrewery]

Different idea, from my personal experience. Since we're talking about Buicks, if you want even floatier ride but take a hit on fuel economy - BUT...BUT not have a problem with the intake gaskets as a lot of 3800s will (change that Deathcool on time oruse something else) - that money should buy you a clean Roadmaster (I prefer woody wagon but sedan is cool too). Much bigger but even comfier. Apart from Optispark, bulletproof and easy to repair. Last I checked there were a lot more clean Roadmasters in the Midwest than where I am (Left Coast).